Phase 3 of our leadership journey is a tipping point. Leaders will build authentic relationships by moving toward their team or leading with authority and position. To progress on your leadership journey, you must first master yourself. How will you choose to show up in this world? Once you truly understand who you decide to be, you can create meaningful relationships that stand the test of time. Always be approachable as a leader and remove the barriers between you and your team. Your goal is to create a collaborative environment where people in your organization practice disciplined disobedience. Is your team willing to stand up when the organization is headed down the wrong path? Above all, to truly create meaningful bonds, you must challenge your team by creating crucible events. These events are not designed to break your team down. They are designed to build your team up and instill the confidence needed during stressful times.

Phase 3 of leadership is your decisive point in becoming a transformational leader. Leadership is a journey; if you do not take the time upfront to build authentic relationships, you will fail to become a transformational leader. Building close relationships with your team is not a weakness and should not be considered soft. Leadership is messy, and you must lead the whole person, including yourself. To do that, you must be honest, vulnerable, and okay with showing emotion. But above all, you need to be consistent. If you fail to live the values and principles you want to emulate in your organization, so will your team. Your responsibility is to your team and their ability to produce results. Be routine in your actions, hold others and yourself accountable, and have the discipline to follow through when times get tough. Let these seven ways to fail at Strengthening Relationships inspire you. We all have greatness inside, but it's up to us to forge those abilities. Become the leader your team needs!

As we build our leadership bridge to become a more Purposeful Accountable Leader (PAL), there will come a time when we assume situational leadership. Someone somewhere believes you have what it takes to become a transformational leader. Be careful; position, rank, or title only gives you authority. Authority is recognized, but leaders can not earn trust and gain respect with it. Situational Leadership is the only phase on our journey that is not earned. You should aggressively begin to exit the phase as quickly as you entered it.

Episode 54 Twenty-Seven (27) Rules of Leadership with Joshua K. McMillion

Episode 49 with Kalpashree Gupta

Jack Ryan is a Business Development Director for FN America's Military Programs Team, focused on their infantry weapons and land systems portfolio. This includes current programs of record (small arms) and developmental weapons platforms for the U.S. military.

Before working for FN America, Jack served in various business development roles within the Aerospace and Defense industries. Jack has previously worked with Syncroness, an engineering design firm focused on developing Aerospace products, and Textron Aviation, supporting their commercial sales team (domestic Citation, King Air, and Citation sales).

Before entering the industry, Jack was an active-duty Infantry Officer and served as a rifle platoon leader in Afghanistan and as a company XO at Ft. Bliss, TX. Jack is continuing his military career as a Reservist and has had two company commands and various operations roles during his time in the Army Reserves.

Jack graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the Smeal College of Business (Penn State University) and held an active private pilot's license (SEL) with an instrument rating.

Jack resides in Northern Virginia with his wife and four children. He enjoys cycling, backcountry skiing, and hiking during his off time.

Episode 30 Strengthening Relationships: 7 Ways Leaders Can Win with Joshua McMillion

Episode 29 with Dr. Mike Battaglino